Manouchehr Bakhtiari, Father of Poya: The Islamic Republic is Trying to Kill Me in Prison

Manouchehr Bakhtiari, the father of Poya Bakhtiari, one of the victims of the November 2019 protests, warned in an audio file released from Choubindar Prison in Qazvin that the Islamic Republic is trying to kill him in prison. In the audio file published by Masih Alinejad, a journalist and host of VOA's Tablet program, Mr. Bakhtiari states: 'I am currently ill [and] my life is in danger,' but the Islamic Republic continues to 'keep me in prison to suffer and force me to take my own life.' He emphasizes at the end of his message that he will stand until the fall of the Islamic Republic and will continue to seek justice for his son and the Iranian people. The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, HRANA, reported on Saturday that Manouchehr Bakhtiari, a prisoner seeking justice held in Choubindar Prison in Qazvin, has been denied medical leave despite his poor physical condition due to the opposition and obstruction of the authorities. Manouchehr Bakhtiari was arrested on May 9, 2021, by government forces at his home in Tehran. He was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court to 3 years and 6 months in prison, 2 years and 6 months of exile, and a 2-year travel ban, and was transferred from the detention center of one of the security agencies to the central prison of Karaj. This justice-seeking citizen was moved to Choubindar Prison in Qazvin in July 2022. On November 1 of this year, he was sentenced to six months in prison by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court of Qazvin for what was termed 'insulting the leadership' in a case opened against him during his imprisonment. Manouchehr Bakhtiari's son, Poya Bakhtiari, was shot dead during the November 2019 protests in Phase 4 of Mehrshahr, Karaj. Pressure on justice seekers; Mehrdad Bakhtiari: The Revolutionary Court has auctioned my sister's house. Exclusive; Sister of Manouchehr Bakhtiari: The government is fabricating a case against my brother. Manouchehr Bakhtiari, a justice-seeking prisoner, was sentenced to six months in prison for 'insulting the leader.' Manouchehr Bakhtiari, a political prisoner in Qazvin, was tried again. The anniversary of Poya Bakhtiari's birth was held with expressions of 'hope' for the 'rebirth of Iran.' Mona Bakhtiari states that Nahid Shirpichesh has been beaten in prison. The summons of the sister of justice-seeker Poya Bakhtiari to the Revolutionary Court of Zanjan. Sara Abbasi addressed the Islamic Republic: You threaten the world but fear Manouchehr Bakhtiari. Warning from Manouchehr Bakhtiari's wife about his health: 'He cannot stand or walk.'